Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said the government plans to impose 300% tariffs on the import and handling of grain cargoes from Russia and Belarus.
In addition, Latvia intends to develop mechanisms to identify allegedly stolen Ukrainian grain. To determine the origin of grain, including in transit cargoes, the country will cooperate with Ukrainian specialists and laboratories.
According to Kulbergs, the Baltic states should jointly address the task of curbing the import and transit of Russian and Belarusian grain. He has already discussed the issue with Estonia's prime minister and will soon discuss it with the head of Lithuania's government.
Parties in the ruling coalition support the measures proposed by the prime minister to restrict the transit of Russian and Belarusian grain through Latvia and prevent the circulation of grain exported from occupied territories of Ukraine.
Arturs Butans, a deputy from the National Alliance party, said the party had prepared amendments to the agriculture law to completely ban the transit of Russian grain through Latvian ports and infrastructure. Latvia's Economy Minister Viktors Valainis said the government's grain policy should primarily focus on the interests of local farmers.